Ireland Tertiary Education

  • Category: Ireland

According to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap 2024 Report, 17.6% of Irish graduates in EMC were women. According to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), women make up a smaller proportion of students entering, enrolled in, and graduating from engineering, manufacturing, and construction (EMC) programs when compared to men in Ireland.

OECD

According to the OECD, the share of women enrolled in EMC programs in Ireland has increased between 2018 and 2022. For instance, the number of women enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in EMC increased by 3.4 percent between 2018 (17.3%) and 2022 (20.7%). In 2022 (33.9%), a higher share of women enrolled in master’s programs than in 2018 (30.5%). A higher share of women enrolled in doctoral programs in 2022 (35.4%) compared to 2018 (33.2%).

Percentage of Women Enrolled in Ireland in EMC by Education Level in 2018-2022
Source: OECD (2024), Graduates by field, OECD.Stat. Retrieved from https://stats.oecd.org

 

The number of women enrolling in EMC undergraduate programs has experienced a steady increase between 2018 (3,126) and 2022 (4,410). The number of women entrants in EMC bachelor’s programs has experienced an increase between 2018 (848) and 2022 (1,154). The number of women graduating has also increased between 2018 (769) and 2022 (921). In 2022, 21% of enrollments, 21% of entrants, and 19% of graduates in EMC bachelor’s programs were women.

Women in Ireland in EMC Bachelor's Programs in 2022
Source: OECD (2024), Graduates by field, OECD.Stat.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure

 

The number of female entrants and graduates in EMC master’s programs has increased between 2018 and 2022. The number of women enrolling in EMC master’s programs almost doubled between 2018 (661) and 2022 (1,139). In 2022, 34% of enrollments, 35% of entrants, and 35% of graduates in EMC master’s programs were women.

Women in Ireland in EMC Master's Programs in 2022
Source: OECD (2024), Graduates by field, OECD.Stat.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure

 

Between 2018 (402) and 2022 (495), the number of women enrolling in EMC doctoral programs increased slightly. The number of women graduating and female entrants in EMC doctoral programs also increased slightly between 2018 and 2022. In 2022, 35% of enrollments, 37% of entrants, and 30% of graduates in EMC doctoral programs were women.

Global Ireland tertiary
Source: OECD (2024), Graduates by field, OECD.Stat.
*Females as a percent of total shown in figure

 

Resources